An introduction to the NNT
Posted By online pharmacy on May 12, 2011
An introduction to the NNT
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5087/5218747524_4c3ee2f707.jpg
focus on the key to understanding the potential benefits of preventive medicine or procedures not known to the public the relative risk reduction measures, but to a lesser extent NNT known absolute risk reduction.
The difference is striking. A recent study on the benefits of anti-cholesterol drug, indicated, for example, near a 30% reduction in heart attacks through the use of the drug daily experiences of the study period of years. 30% is a relativeRisk measure that appears on the surface considerably.
But there is another way of interpreting the study results. For 100 people or do not take drugs, 93 had no infarction. Of the remaining seven, five had a heart attack or taking the drug did not have. Effectively meant that the reduction in absolute terms was the risk of heart attack for drug hundred.
In other words, for every 50 people taking the drug,less a person would have had a heart attack. The other 49 would pay for an expensive drug (and presented the possible side effects), would benefit but not statistically.
Best known for over twenty years, epidemiologists developed a simple measure of absolute risk reduction compared to the number needed to treat "or NNT. Represents the total number of people who come to individually a particular drug or procedure for each individual will need. In the above example, the NNT would be50.
"Number needed to harm" or "breast" is an important measure mate test of the risk of side effects of drugs and surgery.
For some preventive drugs, an NNT of 50, 100 or more is not unusual. Remember, in this way. Instead of sitting alone in a doctor's office discussing the possibility with this drug, you are in a large room with 99 other people sitting listening to the doctor to discuss the same medication. The doctor said openly that if all 100The people in the room with this drug, perhaps for the rest of their lives, the death of a person from the terrible disease can be prevented. For the individual, if you knew in advance that it would be, the benefits would be enormous. For the other 99, there would be only the current cost of drugs and the risk of side effects. This trade-off makes sense?
Maybe so, but it is a decision that can now take a more intelligent man-to-one relationship with your doctor about your healthProfile. Further discuss the NNT / NNH drug or procedure. And also to know the NNT / NNH think sitting in a room with many people trying to do all the same decision.
Whether you are concerned only with their health or quality and the cost of health care in general, I think the number needed to treat approach is a critical decision-making.
Unfortunately, neither NNH NNT paid little attention.
Comments
Leave a Reply